The immensely talented Swedish producer, John Dahlbäck, joins us for a chat and fills us in on producing records since the age of 15, his favourite places to spin and about his superb new compilation for Toolroom Records.
Thank you for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to be our Guest Reviewer. Can you please tell our customers where you are in the world and what you’ve been up to over the last 7 days?
Right now I'm in LA having a few days off from a pretty intense US-tour. I've been on the road the last 7 days playing and it's been amazing so far!
Your family is full of musicians (including cousin Jesper who is a very well respected techno artist), what do they think about your beats and do you ever collaborate?
They're pretty openminded and therefor I hope they think it's new and cool. They can hear the musicality in my productions so Im happy about that.
Famously your first house track got signed and released when you were only 15. Were you going to clubs back then? If not, what inspired you and how did you set about making beats?
I wasn't going out around that age. The music just inspired me to make my own, my cousin Jesper was the only houseproducer I was listening to at the time. I started to go out maybe at 17 or 18, when I started playing myself.
We can imagine that your core music production set up has advanced somewhat since those early days. What hardware and software do you find indispensible right now and what kit would you recommend to kids starting out?
I'm all software. I don't know why but I am. I believe you can make most things in the computer, of course not everything. I don't know, maybe I'll get hardware stuff to put on the master, but for now I'm happy with what I use.
Your Toolroom Knights compilation was recently released. Can you tell us a bit about the tracklist?
The two CDs cover my own journey in EDM. I started off with Deep House and am now more into Electro House. I basically wanted to show people the kind of music I fell in love with 10 years ago and hope they feel the same way.
The UK launch party is being held at the Ministry of Sound, which is a pretty impressive place to spin. What other venues do you rate and have you been anywhere recently where you’ve been pleasantly surprised by the response?
One of my favorite clubs in the world is Sankeys, Manchester. Such an amazing vibe everytime! It's not a bottle-service kind of club, it's a place where people who love the music go to.
From Ministry of Sound you’re then off for a massive set of tour dates around North America. Here in Europe we hear so much about the scene over there. Can you tell us more from your experience?
It's an amazing scene over there! People are so in to it and interested in the music. I feel some places in Europe have been a bit spoiled with big DJs coming in every weekend. But here they don't care, they just wanna go out and throw crazy parties.
You’re not the only artist from Sweden hitting the USA right now of course! What is it about your country that has created so much high power talent in the EDM scene?
Well, it's impossible to answer that. I would think our schools have some kind of input, because we're being graded in Music and we learn that from a young age. And we do have 8 months of darkness, so we need to be creative.
You’re still only in your mid-20’s and have achieved so much already. Where would you like to be in five years time and would you have done anything differently in your career so far if you could head back?
I'd like to just keep on doing what I do, maybe get in to some more productions for other people. But I'm in a good place, I know what I wanna do and I love the music I make myself, which is very important.
Finally, your own label is called Mutants. If you could mutate into a creature with special powers what would they be!?
To be able to fly so I wouldn't need to take planes everywhere.
John Dahlbäck Reviews
| Toulouse (Original Mix) (6:05) | Cue in Player Play Now | |||||
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Artist: Nicky Romero Label: Spinnin' Records Genre: House / Electro (Funky, Progressive, Tech) Release Date: 2012-01-02 |
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Super catchy chord progression in the break which leads in to a cool kickdrum vs bassline thing. One of my favorite tracks right now.
| What Did I Do (Original Mix) (5:22) | Cue in Player Play Now | |||||
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Artist: Kele vs Sander van Doorn feat Lucy Taylor Label: Doorn Genre: House / Electro (Funky, Progressive, Vocal) Release Date: 2012-01-09 |
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I love the vocals in this one. And if that wasn't enough, Sander puts a great melody on top which complete an amazing track.
| Spaceman (6:19) | Cue in Player Play Now | |||||
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Artist: Hardwell Label: Revealed Recordings Genre: House / Electro (Electro, Progressive) Release Date: 2012-02-06 |
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Hardwell has developed to a true talent. He shows here what he knows best, the melody. A highpitched glide melody in the break and the same melody as the bassline when it kicks in.
| Heroes Of The Night (Pleasurekraft Remix) (6:27) | Cue in Player Play Now | |||||
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Artist: UMEK & Christian Cambas Label: 1605 Genre: House / Electro (Funky, Tech, Vocal) Release Date: 2012-01-09 |
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Pleasurekraft continues to play around with vocal cuts and the pitchbend on this groovy techhouse number and does it again! I like the spacey chords in the break aswell!
| If You Wanna (Original Mix) (5:05) | Cue in Player Play Now | |||||
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Artist: Lunde Bros. Label: Mutants (IG) Genre: House / Electro (Electro) Release Date: 2012-02-08 |
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I can't hype these guys enough. I've played this track so much. Cool vocal sample with a snare drum roll in the break, simple but effective. IFet kicks back in with pitchy sounds and a dope kick.
True banger from Felix on Steve Aoki's Dim Mak. A crazy percussion bass over a sweet drumpackage and a beautiful breakdown.
| Fade Into Darkness - Albin Myers Remix (5:56) | Cue in Player Play Now | |||||
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Artist: Avicii Label: Ministry of Sound UK Genre: House / Electro (Funky, Vocal) Release Date: 2011-10-02 |
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One of last year's biggest tracks get an amazing remix from fellow Swede Albin Myers. Really cool chord progression together with beats. Very catchy.
| Catch 22 (Original) (5:30) | Cue in Player Play Now | |||||
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Artist: Urchins Label: Sweat It Out Genre: House / Electro (Electro, Fidget) Release Date: 2012-01-16 |
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Back to the old school in this breakdown. Trancy chords at it's best which just dissapears and leave room for a super cool beat and high pitched sound.
| Body Tonic (Original Mix) (5:55) | Cue in Player Play Now | |||||
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Artist: My Digital Enemy, Jason Chance Label: Hotfingers Genre: Deep / Tech House (Tech House) Release Date: 2012-02-06 |
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Cool techhouse track! Nice bassline which later on stacks up with stabby chords. Great track to start the night with!
| Falling Star (7:03) | Cue in Player Play Now | |||||
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Artist: Kris Menace Label: Compuphonic Genre: Deep / Tech House Release Date: 2012-02-08 |
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If the last track was something to start the night with, this is for the closing. Sweet French house with a catchy Meance-like-lead!
Massive thanks out to John Dahlbäck from the Trackitdown team
Please take a moment to vist the following John Dahlbäck portals
www.facebook.com/johndahlbackmutants
| Toolroom Knights - John Dahlbäck (Unmixed Tracks + 2 DJ Mixes) (389:46) | ||||
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Artist: John Dahlbäck Label: Toolroom Records Genre: House / Electro (Funky, Progressive, Tech) Release Date: 2012-02-06 |
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